JAPAN CONSIDERS
STOVL F-35B
ELECTED OFFICIALS IN Japan have
proposed purchasing the short take-
o and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B
and introducing a multi-purpose
aircraft carrier. It would be operated
solely for defensive purposes and
could also serve as a hospital ship.
Conversion of the Japan Maritime
Self-Defense Force’s two Izumo-class
helicopter destroyers will be an
option. The proposal is one of several
intended to improve Japan’s defense
capabilities that will be considered
this year when the government
reviews the National Defense Program
Guidelines. The government is
concerned over North Korea’s nuclear
and missile development and China’s
military build-up and increasing
maritime presence. Tom KaminskiA P-8A operated by the RAAF’s No 11 Squadron conducts a training fl ight
near RAAF Base Edinburgh on March 23, while carrying a pair of AGM-
air-to-surface missiles. Commonwealth of AustraliaRAAF POSEIDON ACHIEVES IOC
THE P 8A MULTI MISSION maritime
aircraft (MMA) has achieved initial
operating capability (IOC) with the
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF),
ve months ahead of schedule.
Announced on March 20, the
milestone was achieved after six
of the 12 aircraft that are currently
under contract had entered service
with 92 Wing’s No 11 Squadron
at RAAF Base Edinburgh in South
Australia. The squadron received its
rst Poseidon in November 2016.The RAAF is replacing its eet
of 19 AP-3C maritime patrol
aircraft with 15 P-8As that will
operate alongside seven Northrop
Grumman MQ-4C Triton unmanned
aircraft systems (UAS). Acquisition
of the Tritons will begin once
the development of the UAS is
completed.
Australia’s P-8As will be operated
by Nos 10 and 11 Squadrons
from Edinburgh. Training for the
Australian ight and maintenancecrews is conducted with
Patrol Squadron (VP) 30 at the
Integrated Test Center (ITC) at NAS
Jacksonville, Florida.
Australia’s Department of
Defence initially purchased eight
P-8As in February 2014, and four
more followed in July 2016. The
decision to add three extra aircraft
was included in Australia’s Defence
2016 White Paper. Delivery of the
nal batch will occur during the
late 2020s. Tom KaminskiTHREE MORE LIGHTNING IIs FOR AUSTRALIA
FIRST RAAF JETS DELIVERED WITH BLOCK 3F SOFTWARE
C-130Hs FOR
COLOMBIA
THE COLOMBIAN AIR Force
(Fuerza Aérea Colombiana,
FAC) has received permission to
acquire three C-130H airlifters
from the US. The aircraft, which
are valued at $30 million, will
be acquired via the Excess
Defense Articles (EDA) program.
Tom Kaminski[NEWS] WORLD
18 June 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net
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